Jancis Robinson (18)

If the Holdaway Sauvignon was all about the fruit, with a little bit of winemaking, this is more about the winemaking but could not be built like this without that same fruit quality and intensity – as it opens there’s blackcurrant leaf and an almost hidden note of tropical fruit and richness. Marked struck-match, smoky, cordite first impression, but not excessive unless you don’t like this style. This is bold, fresh, with the start of some cedary development of bottle age. On the palate, the texture is rounded and deep, filling the mouth but still incredibly fresh. Long, mouth-watering, salty finish, and a promise of more bottle-aged complexity to come. Delicious now but no rush. Classy, complex, distinctive. For lovers of Sauvignon in the style of Dogpoint Section 94.

Vinous (96)

The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Abstract Three Rows is a pure and sophisticated wine from, true to its name, three rows of a dry farmed parcel. It is bright and tangy yet savory. The fruit is pure and delicate, like a cloud. It is transparent and yet expansive in the mouth, having no heaviness. Light honey, nectarine, musky boxwood and oatmeal flavors abound with a light creamy character. Sensitive Sauvignon.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Seductive and well-judged ‘reductive’ (smoky, struck-match) aroma and really toasty as it opens up, something cedary. Very Coche Dury but, most importantly, there is the fruit intensity to carry off this winemaking style. Nutty, creamy, mealy citrus. So many things going on that it makes you slow down to try to enjoy all this complexity. Deep, deliciously fresh and incredibly persistent with an aftertaste of savoury/mineral citrus. Worth every penny of its NZ price of $45 (from the producer's website). Classy and got better and better over the few days post opening.

Vinous (97)

The 2021 Chardonnay Reed Vineyard is pure, harmonious and suave, caressing the mouth with its gentle texture and purity. It's not showy but a wine worth getting to know: it provides cognitive and sensory pleasure. You can expect almond, oatmeal, smoky nuts and party popper aromas. Yes, party poppers. I really love the smell of party poppers, so I want to keep smelling this and having a little party shimmy. Pure and textural with a gourmand character that will make you want to lick your cheeks to keep tasting it. Already good; this is going to be great.

Decanter (98)

Established in 1985, Cloudy Bay has become one of the world’s most recognised New Zealand wine brands. Te Koko is made from fruit from four prime vineyard parcels. It’s barrel-fermented with ‘wild’ indigenous yeasts for four to five months before spending 15 months on fine lees. Roger Jones: Thai rice pudding with kaffir lime. Clean, focused and lingers for an age. The luxurious feeling at the end is immense; this is a stunning wine. Melanie Brown: Opulent and alluring. Shows how oak can heighten flavours and texture. Soft white peach and florals on a citrus base. Creamy centre with caramel popcorn and a pristine acid line. Beautiful. Rebecca Palmer: Attractive key lime characters, oak melding to create the silky, sleek palate.

James Suckling (92)

This youthful sauvignon has attractive lime-leaf and fresh-herb aromas with passion fruit and a succulent, fine and fresh lime finish. Immediate enjoyment here. Drink now. Screw cap.

Vinous (92)

This Sauvignon is neither flamboyant in its aromatics nor firm in its structure, but quietly understated, like its maker – and it is all the better for it. The pure and delicate flavors include apple and elderflower. The aromatic intensity has had the volume turned down to a pleasing hum thanks to 20% wild fermentation. Light in body, displaying lovely balance and poise.

Decanter (95)

Seductive bouquet of wild flowers and minerals, a fine leesy complexity and fresh aromas and flavours of citrus, peach tea and sweet hay. Crisp, refreshing, fruity and dry with fine texture. Just enough concentration of flavour to contrast the fresh herb notes and salivating acidity. Well made and long.

The Real Review (95)

Struck flint reductive notes introduce the bouquet, and there is richness and excellent depth of fruit in the mouth, underlined by a little apparent sweetness, all resolved on the nicely balanced finish. Superb flavour: gooseberry, kiwi-fruit, passionfruit and other tropical fruits, and a long and satisfying aftertaste.

Decanter (97)

The flagship wine from renowned winemaker Kevin Judd, who founded this winery with wife Kimberley in 2009 after 25 years at Cloudy Bay. Sourced from sites across the region, it is fermented using wild yeasts in old French oak barriques where it rests on lees for six months. Roger Jones: Stylish balance of fruit to herbaceous notes, multi-layered with a crunchy texture, mellow yellow summer field flowers. The elegance at the end is quite remarkable. Freddy Bulmer: Attractive and clean on the nose, plenty of primary fruit but also a nice amount of savoury character from the oak. Well balanced and really quite a serious wine. Cat Lomax: Expressive, punchy nose. Great concentration, tonnes of luscious Sauvignon fruit supported by very smart use of oak. Tastes like pricey white Bordeaux. Delicious.

The Real Review (95)

Made from 70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay aged on the lees for three years. Crisp, flavoursome méthode with a strong yeasty, baguette crust flavour together with toast, hazelnut and citrus characters. A beautifully poised wine with an ethereal texture and lingering finish

Decanter (96)

Delicate, pure and enticing bouquet of citrus blossoms, apple, minerals, autolysis notes and gentle wood spice suggestions. Equally layered and long on the palate, where the flavours mirror the nose and develop more complexity as the wine relaxes in the glass. Pure fruited with indulgent textures and flavours.

Heralding from the esteemed vineyards of Marlborough, New Zealand, the Nautilus The Paper Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is considered an exemplar of innovative, artisanal wine production. This distinguished wine is the creation of Nautilus Estate, a single-estate winery renowned for its commitment to crafting expressive, textural wines.

The unprecedented blend that forms Nautilus The Paper Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is achieved through meticulous winemaking techniques, including gentle pressings and fermentation in paper tanks, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods. The grape variety is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, which reflects the winery's unswerving faith in the potential of this varietal.

Upon savouring, the Nautilus The Paper Sauvignon Blanc 2020 presents a vibrant, concentrated palate of lime and passionfruit notes, underlined by a mineral intensity that is the hallmark of Marlborough's terroir. This is a wine that unites traditional craftsmanship with environmental stewardship, resulting in an unparalleled tasting experience for the discerning connoisseur.

The Rimapere Plot 101 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2021 is a captivating embodiment of the Marlborough region's distinct character. Produced by Baroness Ariane de Rothschild's Rimapere estate, exceptional care is taken with the sustainable viticulture and hand harvesting practices. The maritime climate, abundant sunlight, and stony soil of Marlborough imbue the wine with its applauded zesty citrus and tropical fruit notes, underlaid subtly with complex minerality.

This vintage has been vinified in stainless steel vessels to maintain its purity and vivacious character. The slow, cool fermentation process accentuates the aromatic profile, artfully balancing the vibrant acidity with the rich fruit concentration - delivering an overall harmonious palate. A remarkable testament to New Zealand's winemaking prowess, the Rimapere Plot 101 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2021 accentuates each meal with its crisp, fresh finish making it a splendid choice for wine connoisseurs globally.

Hailing from the esteemed vineyards of Marlborough, New Zealand, the Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc Block 20 Cash Block Marlborough 2021 is a delight for the discerning palate. This esteemed varietal, crafted by the award-winning Saint Clair Family Estate, is a classic representation of the rich terroir of the region. The grapes are meticulously hand-harvested from the Cash Block, a vineyard known for its aged vines and higher clay content.

The Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc Block 20 Cash Block Marlborough 2021 presents an aromatic nose and flavours of passion fruit, blackcurrant and a crisp minerality. The wine undergoes fermentation in stainless steel tanks, preserving its pure fruit expression and vibrant acidity. Ageing on lees enhances the complexity and body of this elegant wine.

A symbol of the superior quality that Saint Clair Family Estate consistently produces, this truly captures the essence of New Zealand's Marlborough region.